Warriors' perfect season rolls on

BRUNSWICK, Md. — In its most stern test to date, Boonsboro answered the call on Friday to remain undefeated with a 22-7 victory over Brunswick in an MVAL Antietam game.

The Warriors picked up a big Antietam victory, but just as important, they earned a hefty amount of points to back up its current top spot in the Maryland 1A West Region playoff rankings.

It didn’t help Brunswick (5-3, 2-2) that its all-world quarterback, Ian Fisher, went down with a right knee injury in the first quarter.

However, in the eyes of Boonsboro coach Clayton Anders, it wasn’t any easier for the Warriors (8-0, 4-0).

“Their marquee player goes down and you have to give them credit,” said Anders. “We had our hands full all the way to the end. They ran a lot of the same type of offense with (Joey Conrad) but our offense did a lot of good things.”

The Warriors held Brunswick to 79 yards rushing and 113 passing. Fisher was 2 of 8 for 30 yards before his injury, while Conrad went 5 of 19 for 83 yards.

While the Boonsboro defense stiffened against Brunswick, the offensive line was crisp and the Warriors’ attack left the Railroaders without one player to key on.

“As little as our linemen are, they really do a good job,” said Anders, “and it’s so neat to have kids that are unselfish getting the football.”

After turning the ball over on downs deep in Brunswick territory to squander an opportunity in the first quarter, the Warriors put together a 58-yard drive in seven rushing plays, with Rice going over left tackle and breaking outside to go 21 yards at the 11:09 mark of the second quarter. Rice also had his own number called for a 2-point conversion.

After forcing a Brunswick punt, the Warriors took possession at their 44 and marched 56 yards in 11 plays — 10 of them on the ground — with Gunnar Whipp bolting in from the 3. Rice’s kick made it 15-0 at the 6:32 mark.

Brunswick answered with a score with 8 seconds left in the first half when Conrad found the end zone from the 4. He had a 38-yard completion to Thomas Buchanan that set up the score.

The Warriors threatened for another score as Ruiz marched his team downfield with runs of 20, 10 and 15 yards, but the drive stalled following a Boonsboro penalty as the third quarter ended.

Another strong defensive stand forced a Brunswick punt, and Boonsboro’s offense controlled the fourth-quarter clock with a 66-yard drive, with the Warriors even recovering from a pair of lengthy penalties.

Rice had a 25-yard run before Whipp went 10 yards, then Whipp scored from the 6 with 4:32 remaining.

At 8-0 and first in the region, “this is where we want to be,” said Anders.